Bell ringing mechanism



Jan. 27, 1942. L. LASOWSKY BELL RINGING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 22, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. L 0a is Laso rvsk ATTORNEYS 1942. L. LASOWSKY BELL RINGING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 193'? INVENTOR sows/5' BYL on 4's Ia ATTORNEYS Jan. 27, 1942.

L. LAsowsK Y 2,271,084

BELL RINGING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 22, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gym INVENTOR. Jam's .Zasowa U ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,271,084 BELL RINGING MECHANISM Louis Lasowsky, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application'september 22, 1937, SeriallNo. 165,041

'9 Claims.

The present invention relates to devices for operating bells, and particularly to electrically energized devices for operating bells such as fire bells, locomotive bells, church bells, etc. The mechanism utilized is extremelysimple and effective and furthermore is operable by current supplied from a six or twelve-volt storage battery, which types of batteries are ordinarily supplied von fire engines and like apparatus, as well as by higher voltages of direct or alternating current.

.An object of the invention is to provide an electrically energized mechanism which may be utilized to automatically ring a bell.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a :mechanism in which the impetus applied to the bell clapper occurs in two or more stages so that at the time the clapper strikes the bell it has recently received an impulse but the clapper is nevertheless free at 'the time of striking so that the note from the bell is not muflled.

Further objects and features of the invention will appear when the annexed specification is considered in connection with the appended drawings, in which Figure l is a side view of the mechanism showing its location with respect to the bell which it is to operate.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism, partly in section, taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the mechanism taken along the plane indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing, however, only the left hand portion of the mechanism and showing the parts in one of the positions during operation.

Fig. .5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts in their operating position at the extreme of their movement in the direction opposite to that shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating particularly the parts forming the switching arrangement for causing energization of the magnets of the device.

Fig. '7 is a detail enlarged view taken on the line 1l' of Fig. 2 showing a suitable contact device for controlling the energization of the magnets, and

Fig. 8 shows the circuit utilized to cause alternate energization of sets of magnets.

Referring now to the drawings, in Fig. 1 will be seen a bell ll having fastened thereto at the top a pivot 12 on which hangs a clapper or tongue [3. This is the ordinary structure of any bell and may be a fire engine bell, locomotive 55 bell, or any other suitable structure. The bell is mounted in any suitable manner on a base 20 above the energizing mechanism hereinafter described. The bell is, as stated, unmodified except insofar as the clapper is concerned. The bell clapper is provided with an-extension I 4 in which a pin l'5 is fastened extending to both sides of extension M, and carrying thereon on each side a roller IE or H, these rollers being adapted to cooperate with the energizing mechanism in the manner hereafter described.

The energizing mechanism comprises two frameworks 2i and 22 illustrated as of angle iron and as being rectangular in shape, these frameworks being joined at the sides thereof by panels of Bakelite or other insulating material 23 and 2-4 to. form a housing which. however, is open except on the sides. This housing is fastened to the base 20 in any suitable manner. Fastened to each of the Bakelite panels 23 or 24 is a plate .25 or 26 which forms a support for the magnets and switch structure hereinafter described.

On the plate 26 are supported the two sets of magnets 35, 35, 31 and 38; and 41, 48, 49 and '50; while on plate 25 are the two sets of magnets 31, 32, 33 and 34; and 43, 44, '45 and 46. In each case the upper magnets are supported directly on the plate while the lower ones are supported from the plate through the medium of bracket 4| or 42.

Fastened to the base 20 near the transverse center line thereof, are hinge plates 5| and 52 on which are pivoted the magnet armatures 53 and 54, which armatures cooperate with the lower sets of magnets. Fastened to a bracket which is, in turn, fastened to each armature 53 or 54 is a sub-armature 55 or 56, this sub-armature being arranged to cooperate with the corresponding upper magnet set.

Magnet armature 53 has fastened thereto a plate 51 which carries a block 58 in which are two pins 59, one of which lies on each side of the other armature 54 so that the two armatures move together with a sliding contact between the 1 pins 59 and the armature 54. Each armature is tensioned toward one side of the device by one of the springs and BI which springs are adjusted by means of the I-bolt and thumb screw so that they have equal tension.

Each of the sub-armatures or 56 carries a stud or button 62 or 53, which is adapted to cooperate with a sliding pin 64 or 65 mounted in a bracket 66 or 61 fixed to the plate 25 or 26.

Likewise fixed to the plates 25 or 26 are the brackets I3 or 14, in which are rotatably mounted shafts II or 12, each of which has fixed thereto an upstanding arm 83 or 84, which terminates in a weight for a purpose hereinafter mentioned. Each of the shafts likewise has fixed thereto a downwardly extending arm or 16 which at its lower end carries the contact member 11 or 13 which is adapted to cooperate with the fixed contact structure 8| or 82, details of which are shown in Fig. '7 and will be hereinafter described. The downwardly extending arms 15 and 16 carry brackets 90 and 9| which are connected together by rod 92 which extends through holes in the brackets and is adjustable in relation thereto by means of nuts threaded thereon.

Each Bakelite panel 23 or 24 has fastened thereon the terminal strips 93, 94 and 95 or 96, 91 and 98, these terminal strips being utilized in the manner shown in Fig. 8 to establish connections from an external power source to the various magnets and contact members of the device.

The contact devices 8| and 82 comprise the insulating strips I2 I, each of which has fastened to the face thereof a metallic strip I24. Extending through each of the contact and insulating strip assemblies are pins I25 which carry at their outer ends, as by riveting thereto, plates I26. Compressed between the plates I26 and I24 are springs I21 which cause the two plates to be separated and likewise cause the plates I26 to approach each other. Mounted on the end of each arm 15 or 16 are the contact members 11 or 18 which, as shown in Fig. '7 in connection with member 18, are composed of a central insulating member I29 and two contact plates I30 fastened thereto by riveting or other suitable means.

Referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that power from a suitable external source is supplied through a switch |0| to the two conductors I02 and 2, each of which leads to one of the terminets 32 and 34, while conductor I I 6 leads to magnets and 31, and conductor M5 to the magnets 41 and 49. Magnets 43 and 44 are connected in series as are magnets and 46; 3| and 32; 33 and 34; 35 and 36; 31 and 38; 41 and 48; and

49 and 50. Leading from the pair of magnets 43 ,1

and 45 is a conductor I01 which connects to the terminal strip 93. Similarly conductor I08 leads from the magnets 3| and 33 to the same terminal strip. In a like manner, magnets 48 and 50 are joined by a conductor M1 to terminal strip 96 and magnets 36 and 38 are joined by conductor M8 to the same terminal strip. Terminal strips 93 and 96 are joined by conductors I09 and H9 to the other pole of the switch |0|.

In operating the above described device, main switch |0| is closed which supplies current to the two contact members 8| and 82. One of these two contact members is short circuited by the contact plate 11 or 13 so that the circuit is continued to the magnets. In Fig. 8, and likewise in Fig. 1, the contact plate 18 is shown positioned between plates of the contact member 82 so that the circuit will be completed through those parts and over conductors II4, H5 and H6 and through the various magnets 35-33 and 41-50,

fill

each set of four in a series parallel arrangements, and conductors I I1, H8 and I I9 to the other pole of the switch.

It will be seen from the above that the two sets of magnets on the right hand side, as shown in Fig. l, are energized. The lower set of magnets 4150 attract armature 54 which moves to the right against the tension of spring 60 carrying with it the sub-armature 56 and likewise, due to the pins 59, causing the armature 53 and subarmature 55 to move to the right. After 2. limited amount of motion the sub-armature 56 strikes the roller IE on pin I5, thus moving the bell clapper I3 to the right about its pivot I2.

During this entire interval the upper magnets 35-38 are energized and a magnetic field is set up about them. Now as the armature structure is moved to the right the sub-armature 56 comes within the magnetic field thus set up and this armature is attracted to the right, swinging about its pivot point. At this time additional impetus is given to the bell clapper, causing it to move to the extreme right hand position, as shown in Fig. 5.

As the sub-armature 55 comes into contact with the cores of the upper magnets, the stud 62 thereon strikes the pin 65 which moves against the arm 84 causing rotation of shaft 12 and disengagement of contact plate 18 from the contact member 82. Due to the weighted upper arm 84 this movement is completed under momentum. Since the arms 16 and 15 are connected together by the rod 92, as described, contact plate 11 now enters between the plates of the contact member 8| and completes a circuit through the magnets on the left hand side, as seen in Fig. 4. As a result a field is set up about the left hand magnets and the right hand magnets are deenergized.

As the bell clapper returns it will hit the subarmature 56 which will move about its pivot point until it strikes the armature 54 and, driven by the bell clapper, the parts will return to approximately the position of Fig. 1. This return will be aided by the spring which was tensioned during the movement to the right, as described above. Now the armature 53 will be attracted toward the left carrying with it the sub-armature 55 in a manner exactly similar to that described above for the armature and sub-armature 54 and 56. The armatures 53 and 55 will be consequently attracted and will cause movement of the bell clapper I3 to the left until it strikes the bell. At this time the stud 63 will strike the pin 64 causing the contact to again be closed at the right hand side and the magnets at the left to be deenergized. The bell clapper will then return to its central position and this return, together with the tension on spring 6|, will cause the return of the various armatures to approximately their central position, at which time the armature 54 will again enter the field of the left hand lower magnets 41, 48, 49 and 50, to cause a repetition of the operation described above.

It is to be noted that upward extensions of armatures 53 and 54 are provided, these extensions preventing the bell clapper from passing over and lying outside the armatures and subarmatures.

If desired, the various sub-armatures could support additional sub-armatures which would cooperate with additional electromagnets to give the bell clapper three, four or more steps of movement. Such an arrangement is desirable when the bell is large and the oscillation of the clapper consequently great and also if the clapper is While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is who understood that other devices of the same class could be readily constructed and therefore no limitation is to be implied by the description but the scope of my invention is to be determined only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Ina device of the class described, in combination, a bell having a clapper, a pair of rollers extending from said clapper and being on opposite sides thereof in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of oscillation of said clapper, means cooperating with each said roller to move the clapper, said two means serving to move said clapper in opposite directions, and electromagnetic means to alternately actuate said clapper moving means.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a bell having a clapper, a pair of rollers extending on opposite sides of said clapper, a pair of magnet sub-armatures, one of which cooperates with one of .said rollers, a pair of magnet armatures to which said sub-armatures are pivotally connected, electromagnets adapted to cooperate with said armatures and sub-armatures, and means to energize a pair of magnets to attract an armature and its sub-armature, the

air gaps being so proportioned that first the armature is attracted carrying the sub-armature therewith, and then the sub-armature is additionally attracted causing it to move about its pivotal connection whereby the clapper is im- H pelled toward the bell in two steps.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a bell having a clapper, a pair of rollers extending on opposite sides of said clapper, a pair of series of magnet sub-armatures each one of the series being pivotally mounted on the preceding one, and the last one of each series cooperating with one of said rollers, a pair of magnet armatures to which the first of each series of said sub-armatures are pivotally connected, electromagnets adapted to cooperate with said armatures and said sub-armatures, and means to energize a series of magnets to sequentially attract an armature and its sub-armature, the air gaps being so proportioned that first the armature is attracted and then the associated sub-armatures are attracted sequentially causing them to move about their pivotal connections whereby the clapper is impelled toward the bell in a plurality of steps.

4. In a bell ringing device the combination of a pair of armatures pivotally mounted at points adjacent each other and sloping oppositely upward to cross each other, means on one of said armatures to slidably engage the other and cause them to move together, a bracket mounted on each said armature, a sub-armature pivotally mounted on each said bracket, a pair of electromagnet structures mounted on either side of the armature pivots one magnet of each pair being more remote from the pivot than the other, a switch and actuating mechanism therefor adjacent each pair of electromagnet structures, and means carried by the sub-armatures to actuate a corresponding switch through said actuating mechanism to cause a circuit to be completed through one of said pairs of electromagnet structures whereby the associated armature is first attracted by the magnet near the pivot carrying with it the sub-armature and thereafter as the sub-armature comes within the field of the remote magnet of the pair it is attracted thereby and swings about its pivot.

5. In a bell ringing device, the combination of a pair of armatures pivotally mounted at points adjacent each other and sloping oppositely between to cross each othenmeans on one of said armatures to slidably engage the other and cause them to move together, a series of sub-armatures each pivotally mounted on the preceding sub-armature, an entire series being mounted on each said armature, a pair of series of electromagnet structures mounted on either side of the armature pivots, the magnets of the series being progressively more remote from the pivots, a switch and actuating means therefor adjacent each pair of electromagnet structures, means carried by the last sub-armature of each series to actuate said mechanism whereby said associated switch closes a circuit through the elec tromagnet structures on one side of the pivot whereby the associated armature is first attracted by the magnet nearest the pivot and thereafter as the successive sub-armatures of the series come within the field of the progressively more remote magnets of the series they are attracted thereby and swing about their pivots.

6. In a device of the class described, in combination, a bell having a clapper pivotally mounted for oscillation in a vertical plane, a plurality of magnet structures mounted in pairs on either side of the vertical axis of said bell and in planes parallel to the plane of oscillation, armature structures for said magnets pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said vertical axis, each said armature structure comprising an armature and a sub-armature pivoted thereto, means for energizing the magnets of said pairs alternately to cause the associated armature and sub-armature to be attracted thereby, and means mount ed on said clapper and cooperating with said subarmatures to cause said clapper to be oscillated as the armatures are alternately attracted.

'7. In a device of the class described, in combination, a bell having a clapper pivotally mounted for oscillation in a vertical plane, a plurality of magnet structures mounted in pairs on either side of the vertical axis of said bell and in planes parallel to the plane of oscillation, armature structures for said magnets pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said vertical axis,

each said armature structure comprising an armature having mounted thereon a series of sub-armatures each of which is mounted on the preceding one, means for energizing the magnets of said pairs alternately to cause the associated armature structure to be attracted thereby. and means mounted on said clapper and cooperating with the last one of each series of sub-armatures to cause said clapper to be oscillated as the armature structures are alternately attracted.

8. In a mechanism for ringing a bell having a clapper, the combination of a pair of clapper oscillating means, one for driving the clapper in each direction, an electromagnet for operating each said clapper oscillating means, circuits for energizing said magnets each said circuit including a contact means, a slidable pin operated by each clapper oscillating means at the end of its stroke, a shaft, an arm mounted on said shaft in the path of said pin, a second arm on said shaft, a contact shoe carried by said second arm, and

the circuit of the magnet effective to move the clapper to its stroke end is opened and the circuit of the magnet effective on the other of the pair of clapper actuating means is closed.

9. In a device of the class described, in combination, a bell having a clapper, a pair of joined clapper oscillating means, one for driving the clapper in each direction, an electromagnet for operating each said oscillating means, circuits for energizing each said magnet, each said circuit including a contact member, a slidable pin adapted to be operated by each said clapper oscillating means, a shaft for each said pin, an arm mounted on each said shaft in the path of said pin, said arm being weighted at its upper end, a second arm mounted on said shaft carrying a. contact shoe, and means interconnecting said arms whereby when one clapper reaches the end of its stroke it causes movement of the shaft which is completed due to momentum of the weighted arm to open circuit the magnet which was effective to cause its stroke and to close the circuit of the magnet effective to move the joined clapper oscillating means in the opposite direction.

LOUIS LASOWSKY. 

